Submersible pump



March 2, 1954 B R H 2,670,686

. SUBMERSIBLE PUMP Original Filed Dec. 13, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 30 I I l l 72 1 1 I A ll n l I I 1 W l I I. 98 'IIIJ.I; 6 III-J INVENTOR CHARLES J. BERGH BY N FIG-ll ATTORNEYS March 2, 1954 c, BERGH 2,670,686

SUBMERSIBLE PUMP Original Filed D80. 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG-l 2.

INVENTOR CHARLES J. BERGH N Saw,

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 2, 1954 Dayton Pump & Manufacturing Gonipaiiy,

Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio flriginainapplication December 13, 1950, Serial 3 M- liyiile d. t isann teber 3, 1951, Serial N0. 251,653

invention relates to suture 'iblej umps, and particularly t6 hiiiltitag' saunaame having an electric drive i'i'iotoi integrally mounted therewith. I

Pumps of the type gene" ll'y referred to above are known in the art, aiid are hay g the sar'ne general construction estua e w th which this apinicauun is eoncerud is nn-seate in my copending appliatiofi, seria N 176,496, med July 1950, new Pate'iit No. 2,648,286 issued August 1- 1953.

This application a divi sion bi my G o-pending application, serial No. 200,645, filed December 13, 1950.

submers ble puifip's, 'i1r tf'atd in the present applicatioh arid the copendmga'pplicatioiis re erred to, are adapted for b'i e ifiseitea n a well casing or the like its a unit to be supported OH the do'wn bifie tll i'oiig W i'l'i the fi from the well disihaige "The pump unit is supported iltifl the dowri pipe and has no cohntiofi with th well casing". V

In the pump construction illustrate in application Serial No; 175,496, 1 1uu stiatea a multip 7 'u the rinsingof, the pump and the" various parts associated therewith, such the end members for thenousiug, were in tegrany oo nilet ii together as b sblaiifig. or brazing. This construction I found; to" be satis factory when all the" pii lfip parts ran Wlthiii' predetermined close Iifiiit 6f size; and when it is unnecessary to service the i) sliiul'd the manuiaturing to ious parts of the eirceed' predetr Iifiiits, then that Of construction p" I the easy tearing down of the pa in order to replace or modify the defective p'ar s". v

Also, should it use: to service the pump due to wear or breakage of any ei thepar'ts, the integral connection between the casing pro er and thend assures thereof it ifficuit' to accomplish the qisihantu r the'fi'inp with any ease,- and usually it beeomes necesai'y to provide new casing h V Ina'sm ucu' as the p n I u it is supportea on the down" pipe" i'n'flie Well} f; e ele drivemutor integral with the uniti'sofi' the I er end thereof, and d'i'fii'culty eiiedufitrea' iii inal' i'ing electrical connections tojthe motor iii 5'" a manner that the eledti'ie leads arid" the meter are at all times" sealed list l'ealfag and' are so arranged that the cable'lead'i'ng'to' e iiiotor or the motor itself can readily be" i'i'ideperideritly replaced should it beomeinefsaryl Havingthe foregoing in mind; the prixieipal 56- 2; Claims. (01. 103 87) 2 ject of the present invention is to provide a mumstage submersible pump having an electric drive motor which overcomes the difl'ic'ultie's' referred to above. I V

A particular object is the provisioiiof a multi stage pump which tian readily be dismantled at any time for servicing. Another particular object is the provision of an arrangement for supplying power to the eledtric drive motor for the ump which does not place any physical load on the lead-in cable and wherein the lead-in eable can readily be replaced at any time. V 4

A further object is a provision of a lead-in arrangement for supplying power to the electric drive motor for the pump and in which there is no leakage of fluid about the cable at any point.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent upon reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a pumping unit according to my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the pump proper drawn at a somewhat enlarged scale than is Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section indicated by line 33 on Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse section indicated by line 44 on Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view which may be indicated by line 5--5 on Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a view looking down on top of an impeller housing;

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken throughxthe impeller housing and is indicated by line |''l on Figure 6;

Figure 8' is a view looking down on top of one of the impellers of the pump; V i

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken through the impeller and is indicated by line sl -Son Figure 8 Figure 10 is a sideelevational view oia plug arrangement for makingeleotrical connections with the drive motorof the unit; I my I Figure 11 is an end view of the plug looking in from the right side of Figure 1 0; and I I Figure 12 is" an enla ged sectiona Viewtakeh through the pump showing the physical relationship or the impeners and impeller housings.

Referring tothe drawings somewhat morein detail, Figure I shows an elevational View of a pumping unit constipated accordii'ifg to my invention} This pumping uiiit comprises an elongated electric drive motor [ll at the lower an, the pumping unit proper indicated at I 2', and a down 3 pipe I4 which is threaded into the upper end of the pump and supports the entire pumping unit inside the well.

The construction of the pump will become evident on reference to the enlarged sectional view Figure 2. In Figure 2' it will be noted that the pump comprises an outer cylindrical housing member or casing member It which is internally threaded at its lower end, as at it, to receive the threaded part of the suction section 20 of the pump, The suction section 20 has an annular flange 22, and a gasket 24 provides a seal between the end of casing member I6 and flange 22 preventing any leakage into or out of the pump casing.

The suction section 20 is provided with openings 26 through which the fluid to be pumped enters the casing. The lower end of suction section 20 is provided with flange means through which the bolts or cap screws 28 pass to engage the frame of the motor I63 for retaining it in assembled relation with the pump.

Within casing member Iii are stacked a plurality of annular members 30 which are referred to as impeller housings. These annular members have an axially extending peripheral portion for engagement with the corresponding portion of the next housing member, and these portions are shouldered top and bottom, as at 32, to provide for. accurate axial alignment of the several parts within the casing of the pump.

Resting on the uppermost of the impeller housings 39 is an upper bearing section member 3% which has radial rib parts 36 that supporttne central hub part 38 adapted for receiving the sleeve bearing 40.

On top of upper bearing section St is a discharge section t2. Discharge member 53 has its upper end internally threaded, as at M, for receiving the down pipe I4 by which the entire pumping unit is suspended in the well and through which pipe the entire discharge of the pump is conducted to its place of use.

The casing member It extends beyond the outwardly flanged lower end of discharge section 24 and is internally threaded, as at '46, for receiving the externally threaded annular clamping ring 40. A gasket 56 seals betweenthe ring and the discharge section, and together with gasket 2 provides complete sealing means for the pump casing, so that when it is assembled it is as fluid tight as if the parts were brazed or soldered together. At the same time, the threaded end parts of the casing member provide means whereby the pump can readily be dismantled at any time for servicing.

The output shaft of drive motor I is indicated at 52, and it has a tongue and slot arrangement with pump shaft that has its lower end journaled in bearing 56 and suction section and its upper end journaled in bearing #50. Shaft Ed is shouldered at 08 and has mounted thereon above the shoulder a plurality of impellers 60 that are clamped togetherin rigid relation with the shaft by clamping nuts 82 adjacent the upper end of the shaft.

Each impeller is constructed in a substantially conventional manner, as indicated in Figures 8 and 9, and comprises a back plate 62, a front plate 64, a hub 66, an annular inlet opening 53, and the vanes It that direct the fluid from the peripheral openings 12. Each annular inlet opening 68 of the impellers is formed by a cylindrical projection 74, and which projection is journaled a relative to the central aperture of the adjacent impeller housing member 30 by a bearing 76.

Turning for the moment to the impeller housing, a typical one of these is illustrated in Figures 6 and '7, wherein the housing will be seen to comprise a flat disk' part 18 having the collector vanes dependent therefrom that receive the fluid discharge from the periphery of the impeller beneath the housing and direct it inwardly to the central aperture of the said housing into which extends the annular flange 14 of the impeller immediately above. The collector vanes 80 in this manner serve to minimize turbulence within the pump and also serve to convert a substantial amount of the velocity head of the fluid being pumped into pressure head at the inlet of the next following impeller.

In order to eliminate the need for lubricating the several bearings referred to at 40, 56, and I6, it is preferred to form these bearings of graphite, or of some composition bearing sufficient graphite to provide lubrication for the pump shaft and the impellers. Such a material has long life, and is not subject to corrosion by the fluid being pumped.

The power supply to the electric drive motor I0 is brought through by an electric cable which usually extends into the well beside the down pipe. This cable is so arranged that it assumes no physical load, but merely hangs loosely within the well casing. As illustrated, electric cable is composed of whatever number of wires are required, in this case three, which are placed within a waterproof and preferably semi-rigid conduit. This conduit is received in a bearing in discharge section 42 to one side of the threaded bore which receives the end of down pipe I4, and there is a resilient rubber sleeve 92 in the bore that surrounds the end of the conduit.

A gland 94 is threaded into the said bore and serves to compress the rubber-like sleeve so that it is pressed around the conduit and provides a water-tight seal. I have found a number of water resistant synthetic rubbers to be suitable for this purpose, and that a resilience of thirty to forty durometer gives the sleeve the desired characteristics when it is deformed by tightening of the gland.

The said bore opens into a cavity 96 in the discharge section 42 that communicates with the grooves or notches 98 that are formed in the upper bearing member 34, and in the impeller housing members 30. These notches are lined up vertically when the pump is assembled and form a closed channel through which the lead-in wires extend.

This channel is so formed in its lower end to communicate with a cavity I00 in suction section 20, and which cavity has an aperture I02 adapted for being closed by cover plate I0 4. Within the cavity the wires terminate, and the separable connectors I06 which have parts connected to relatively short leads I08 that lead to a plug III) that extends through the lower surface of the suction section 20 for connection with the leads of the motor I0.

To provide a good seal to make a permanent installation of leads 108, they preferably have formed therearound a mastic or wax or other suitable waterproof sealing substance, as indicated at IIZ. Also, the plug H0 is surrounded by the rubber-like O-ring H4 so that there is a seal between the motor and the suction section 20 about the said plug.

'A typical plug of this nature is illustrated in rangement is"'that"the"able can be re plad'at any time merlyby opening the'sepafablebonnectors I06 having""suitable cohn'ebtors, or the motor can be rernqged for replacement quire a tate. T 'fid. the far the'pufii'p proper make the entire unit quite easy to maintain in good working order without the necessity of having to cut the casing of the cable to effect repairs.

It will be observed that as many pumping stages as desired could be built into the pump merely by lengthening the casing I6 and the shaft 54 of the pump and adding the required number of impellers and impeller housings. Since the back or top of each impeller forms the bottom of the passage leading to the next impeller above, any ordinary number of stages in the pump will still produce a relatively compact unit.

A still further feature of my invention is the manner in which the fluid being pumped is utilized for lubricating the impellers and for assisting in withstanding the end thrusts exerted thereon. This feature is brought out in Figure 12 which is an enlarged view showing two of the pump impellers and the impeller housing adjacent thereto.

In this view it will be noted that there is a space, as at I20, between each face of each impeller and the adjacent face of the impeller housing. The space I20 above each impeller is the space between the back face of the impeller and the lowermost surface of the guide vanes independent of the impeller housing next above the said impeller. The space I20 beneath each impeller is substanially continuous from about the cylindrical projection 14 of the said impeller to its periphery.

It will be noted that the front face of each impeller and the upper surface of the impeller housing directly therebeneath are parallel. The described arrangement is availed of to provide lubrication for both faces of the impeller by adjusting the axial dimension of the space so that a capillary action takes place and causes fluid being pumped by the impeller to form a film on each side of the impeller.

It will be noted that the film standing across the lower face of the impeller is quite effective for lubrication purposes and also serves to assist in cushioning the impeller assembly against end thrusts. These end thrusts will, of course, be exerted generally downwardly and the cushioning film which I provide by this capillary action greatly assists in giving the pumping unit long life and quiet and efficient operation.

The sustaining of the axial thrusts on the impeller assembly by the capillary film referred to, together with the sustaining of radial thrusts on the impeller assembly by the bearing rings I6 serves to maintain the unit in efficient and balanced operation for a long period of time with a minimum amount of service.

The actual dimensions of the space I20 may vary considerably with the referred to action being obtained, but I have found that a dimension of about one thirty-second of an inch is most practical because it can be obtained quite readily 6 f ne h median and to ordinary manufacturing and is ample for providing a substantial the 1mpellers and impeller housing, without at the same time representing any substantial amount of lost space within the pumping unit.

It will be ungi grstgog that this invention is susceptible to modification order to adapt it ti f ent usages and eaeiliti ne, and. acc rdingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within th t eet of the appended claims 'I claim:

1. In combination; a drop pipe to support a submersible pump independent of the electric cable, a centrifugal pump supported by the drop pipe and in fluid connection therewith, a connector at the bottom of said centrifugal pump having ports for the introduction of well water into the pump, a sealed chamber in the connector, an electric cable in the chamber, a communicating chamber in the wall of said centrifugal pump sealed around said cable from the well water, an electric motor suspended from the connector, means comprising male and female electrical fittings, one carried by said connector, and the other carried by said motor, for automatically effecting connection of the cable to the motor upon mounting of the motor on said connector, and means sealing about the cable and fittings comprising a matrix in the chamber in the connector and a resilient seal ring between the motor and connector said chamber comprising an access opening, a plate closing said opening, and said plate being detachable for exposing said connector.

2. In combination; a drop pipe to support a submersible pump independent of the electric cable, a centrifugal pump supported by the drop pipe and in fluid connection therewith, a connector at the bottom of said centrifugal pump having ports for the introduction of well water into the pump, a sealed chamber in the connector, an electric cable in the chamber, a communicating chamber in the wall of said centrifugal pump sealed around said cable from the well water, an electric motor suspended from the connector, means comprising male and female electrical fittings, one carried by said connector, and the other carried by said motor, for automatically effecting connection of the cable to the motor upon mounting of the motor on said connector, means sealing the cable in said chamber comprising a sealing grommet at the upper end of the chambers about the cable and a matrix in the lower end of the chambers, and a resilient seal ring about the cable between the motor and connector said chamber comprising an access opening, and a plate detachably mounted over said opening removable therefrom to expose said connectors.

3. In a submersible pump comprising the combination of a drop pipe, a centrifugal pump, means of connecting the centrifugal pump to a motor, a cable for supplying electric power to the motor and the combination therewithof a chamber extending the length of the pump to receive the electric cable to supply power to the pump drive motor, means permanently sealing the cable into the chamber at the lower end comprising a matrix, and means sealing the upper end of the chamber comprising a resilient seal ring in the chamber about the cable and a gland for compressing the seal ring, said cable including separable connectors within the chamber and a Number" plate closing said chamber removable for expos- 2,386,377 ing said connectors. 7 2,577,559

CHARLES J. BERGH.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS 143,179

Number Name 7 a Date 1,387,660 Ostenberg Aug. 16, 1921 10 2,236,887 Arutunofi Apr. 1, 1941 2,320,708 Yost June 1, 1943 2,366,964 Howard Jan. 9, 1945 Name 7 Date Williams Oct. 9, 1945 Armstrong Dec. 4, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Austria Oct. 25, 1935 OTHER REFERENCES An Article Der Entwioklungsstand der Tauchpumpen by C. Pfleiderer in Zeitshrift Des Vereines Deutscher Ingenieure, volume 8, Numher 9, February 29, 1936, pages 253-256. 

